2008 General Conference Videos and Resources
In September of 2007, the General Council of the EMC voted unanimously to develop a one-conference model of church leadership. With that mandate, a Comprehensive Strategic Plan was hammered out with input from across the entire denomination.The Atlantic District Conference voted in April of 2008 its unanimous affirmation of this plan for denominational restructuring.
It passed with a healthy majority vote of the EMC General Conference held in Fort Worth, Texas in July of 2008, It was tabled for the 2010 General Conference’s reconsideration and adoption.
Why do we need it? Since 1976 when the districts were established, we have become less and less efficient, and more detached from one another, and from our core strategies and goals. This decentralized structure has not produced growth, but has instead fostered an environment of disarray and decline. We have seen a 40% reduction in affiliated churches from 1976 to the present. Secondly, IRS regulations are making it difficult or impossible to find adequately trained volunteer personnel in all six Districts capable of performing the treasurer’s duties within acceptable accounting practices. Out of necessity, this level of reorganization has already begun. Thirdly, all of our existing Districts are simply not large enough to sustain themselves. They cannot adequately provide for a paid Superintendent to lead the organization, and meet all of their obligations, let alone be empowered to plan for, and invest in, expansion and growth. Some kind of reorganization or redistricting has been discussed for over a decade now, and the situation is growing worse, not better. It is time to act. Lastly, the General Council made up of a wide cross-section of leaders from across the denomination (both clergy and laity) worked for months and months to hammer out the details of a workable plan of reorganization that will, they believe, remove many of the hindrances to our growth.
The Comprehensive Strategic Plan would enhance: Efficiency..Simplicity..Unification.. Accountability..Fellowship..Renewal.. and Growth of Healthy Churches
All of the resources below will open in a new window or tab.
Click here to download the General Superintendent’s introductory remarks for the 2008 General Conference. (PDF)
Click here to download the 2008 General Conference Report. (PDF)
Click here to view the video of Dr. Williamson’s address to the General Conference.
Click here to view the video of D. Conference Superintendent, Rev. Jack Conner’s address to the General Conference.
Click here to view the video of the Chair for the General Board of Discipline Revision, Rev. Robert Gober’s address to the General Conference.
To download the Comprehensive Strategic Plan PowerPoint presentation, RIGHT CLICK HERE then select “Save Link As” (for FireFox users) or “Save Target As” (for Internet Explorer users) to save the file to your computer.
